GIST of India Year Book 2024 : Chapter-12 : Labour, Skill Development & Employment (Arora IAS)

Ministry of Labour and Employment: Protecting Workers’ Rights

Focus: Safeguarding worker interests, promoting healthy work environment, social security, and skill development.

Key Initiatives:

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana (2019):Pension scheme for unorganized workers.
National Career Service (NCS) (2015):Digital platform for job seekers and employers (career counseling, skill development).
Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY):Incentivizes job creation with social security benefits (post-COVID recovery).
Labour Inspection Scheme:Computerized system for efficient and transparent inspections.
Shram Suvidha Portal:Unified portal for enforcing labor laws and offering services.
Single Unified Annual Return:Streamlined compliance through single online return for 8 labor acts.
Labour Codes:Four codes simplify and harmonize labor laws (minimum wages, social security, ease of doing business).

Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC): Provides medical care and social security to insured workers.

ESIC’s Digital Initiatives:

e-Biz Platform:Integrates services for employer registration.
e-Pehchan:Simplifies identification for online benefit disbursement (Aadhaar seeding).
ABHA Number Creation:Unified health identifier for beneficiaries (digital health record access).
IPS Mobile App for Healthcare:Online appointment booking, home sample collection (in some areas).
GIS-based Mapping for ESIC Services:Shows location of ESIC hospitals and dispensaries.
Online Benefit Claims:Maternity, sickness, and disability claims made online.

Continued Initiatives by the Ministry of Labour and Employment

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO): Manages provident funds, pensions, and insurance schemes.

EPFO’s Online Registration:Simplifies establishment and member registration, contribution remittance.
Pension Reforms and Digital Life Certificate:Introduced minimum pension and uses facial recognition for life certificate submission.
UAN Portability and Bonus Act Amendment:Launched UAN for automatic PF portability and revised bonus eligibility/calculation under the Payment of Bonus Act.

Child Labour Eradication: Focuses on complete prohibition and education access through legislation, projects, and development programs.

Occupational Safety and Health Oversight:

DGMS and DGFASLI enforce safety provisions for mining, factories, and docks under respective acts.
Shram Awards, VRPs, and NSAs recognize outstanding safety performance and suggestions.

Workers’ Education and Development:

Dattopant Thengadi Board educates workers across sectors, promoting awareness and empowerment.
V. Giri National Labour Institute offers training programs for labor administrators, trade union leaders, and others.

Labour Bureau’s Statistical Role: Collects and disseminates labor, employment, and price statistics.

India’s Skilling Endeavors (MSDE): Aims to make India the Skill Capital in collaboration with various stakeholders.

National Skill Development Mission (2015):Focuses on cross-sectoral collaboration for skill development with a three-tier structure.
National Policy for Skill Development (2015):Prioritizes entrepreneurship, skill quality, and equity, targeting marginalized groups and women.
PM-YUVA Udayamita Vikas Abhiyaan (2017):Promotes entrepreneurship development through education and training in higher learning institutes.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):Offers skill development incentives through short-term programs with monetary rewards (extended to PMKVY 3.0 for increased district involvement).